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Healthy Changes in Our School Cafeterias!

Dear Decatur County Schools families,

This fall, Decatur County school cafeterias are meeting tough new federal nutrition standards for school meals, ensuring that meals are healthy and well-balanced and provide students all the nutrition they need to succeed at school. Now is a great time to encourage your kids to choose school lunch!

School meals offer students milk, fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains, and they must meet strict limits on saturated fat and portion size. Starting in School Year 2012-2013, school lunches will meet additional standards requiring:

·         Age-appropriate calorie limits

·         Larger servings of vegetables and fruits (students must take at least one serving of produce)

·         A wider variety of vegetables, including dark green and red/orange vegetables and legumes

·         Fat-free or 1% milk (flavored milk must be fat-free)

·         More whole grains

·         And less sodium

We’re always working to offer Decatur County students healthier and tastier choices. Successful programs already in place include, breakfast in the class, the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable program and serving more locally grown produce.

School meals are a great value and a huge convenience for busy families too! Breakfast is offered at no charge to all students. Paid lunch prices vary according to grade: Elementary, $1.25; Middle $1.60 and High $1.60. All reduced price benefit students eat lunch for $0.40.

We look forward to welcoming your children to the cafeteria this fall. To find out more about Decatur County’s healthy school meals please feel free to contact me at (229) 243-5321 or email atdpurcell@dcboe.com. To get the facts about school meals visit www.TrayTalk.org.

Thank you!

Debbie Crosten-Purcell

Decatur County School Nutrition Director

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider”

Decatur County Board of Education’s Procedure

For

Foods and Beverages Brought Into the School Cafeteria

            As a result of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004,

school systems were mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture to develop and implement a Local Wellness Policy by the 2006-2007 school year.

            As stated in Decatur County BOE policy EEE, the goal is to promote wellness and healthy nutrition for students and staff. All foods available on campus must have as an objective the promotion of student and staff health and the reduction of childhood obesity. In addition, the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) regulations prohibit the sale of non-nutritional foods and carbonated beverages during meal times at all school levels.

            The objective of the Decatur County School Nutrition program is to provide students and staff with meals that are balanced and encourage good nutrition. School Nutrition foods must meet the USDA’s current Dietary Guidelines and Requirements for Americans. Food choices are evaluated to reduce fat and sugar while providing the proper amounts of nutrients and calories for different age groups. A nutritious breakfast and lunch is served daily at each school.

            It is for the reasons listed above that, while encouraging parents and guardians to enjoy a special meal with their child (ren), we are implementing the following procedure:

Procedure for Foods and Beverages Brought into the School Cafeteria:

• Students who bring their lunch should pack it appropriately and drinks (non-carbonated) should be in a non-breakable container.
• Parents and guardians are encouraged to visit the school and enjoy a nutritious meal with their student.

• No outside foods or beverages from restaurants will be brought into the cafeteria.

• Students who have food allergies or medical conditions that require special foods must have a doctor’s statement on file.